The Jazz Singers at University of Memphis performed eight different jazz tunes in concert at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center on Oct. 8. Their first tune, “Mas Que Nada,” paid tribute to Sergio Mendes.
Under the direction of Dr. Jack Cooper, who played the saxophone during a few of the numbers, and Professor Alvie Givhan, who played piano for most of the numbers, the UofM jazz singers have been preparing their group pieces for this concert since the beginning of this school semester and started working on their solo and duo pieces closer to the date of the concert.
The first number performed was a group number titled, “Mas Que Nada”, by Sergio Mendes, who passed away on Sept. 5, 2024, at
age 83. “It’s important to pay tribute to Mendes because he’s very influential on singing groups; he is from Brazil, and with the whole Brazilian samba and bossa nova and that whole background,” said Cooper. “Mas Que Nada” is a popular piece that has been covered by many artists, including the Black Eyed Peas.
Other group pieces performed include “Embraceable You" by George Gershwin, “Chili Con Carne”by the “The Real Group,” and “I Got
Rhythm” by Lester Young. There were three solos performed, two of them by Nat King Cole titled “Orange Colored Sky” and “That’s All,” by “Chet Baker.” Additionally, there was a duo called, “Passing Strangers,” by Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughan.
Two of the most challenging pieces to learn, according to Cooper, were, “Chili Con Carne” because it was acapella, and “I Got Rhythm” because students learned this piece by ear and to learn how to improvise with scatting for this number. Overall, Cooper said the students “deserve a write up; they did well. I’m very proud of them. Those six are fun to work with, I like working with them.”
Dr. Cooper also encourages people to come out to some upcoming events at the Scheidt including the Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra with special guests at Alfred’s on Nov. 26, and the Bluff City Fest at Crosstown Arts on Nov. 20.
